US20170318609A1 - Wireless communications module for work surface power and data units - Google Patents
Wireless communications module for work surface power and data units Download PDFInfo
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- US20170318609A1 US20170318609A1 US15/583,372 US201715583372A US2017318609A1 US 20170318609 A1 US20170318609 A1 US 20170318609A1 US 201715583372 A US201715583372 A US 201715583372A US 2017318609 A1 US2017318609 A1 US 2017318609A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- electrical power
- wireless
- power unit
- wireless communications
- communication device
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Classifications
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- H04W76/002—
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
- H01R27/00—Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
- H01R27/02—Coupling parts adapted for co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J1/00—Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
- H04M1/62—Constructional arrangements
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
- H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
- H04M1/72403—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
- H04M1/72409—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories
- H04M1/72412—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality by interfacing with external accessories using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/02—Services making use of location information
- H04W4/023—Services making use of location information using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W76/00—Connection management
- H04W76/40—Connection management for selective distribution or broadcast
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J1/00—Circuit arrangements for dc mains or dc distribution networks
- H02J1/08—Three-wire systems; Systems having more than three wires
- H02J1/082—Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
- H02J—CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY
- H02J3/00—Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/03—Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
- H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
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- H04W4/008—
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W4/00—Services specially adapted for wireless communication networks; Facilities therefor
- H04W4/80—Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W84/00—Network topologies
- H04W84/02—Hierarchically pre-organised networks, e.g. paging networks, cellular networks, WLAN [Wireless Local Area Network] or WLL [Wireless Local Loop]
- H04W84/10—Small scale networks; Flat hierarchical networks
- H04W84/12—WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
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- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04W—WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS
- H04W88/00—Devices specially adapted for wireless communication networks, e.g. terminals, base stations or access point devices
- H04W88/02—Terminal devices
- H04W88/04—Terminal devices adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user
Definitions
- the present invention relates to power and/or data systems with communications capabilities, for use in work areas and the like.
- Mobile communications devices including cell phones, smart phones, and the like have become increasingly compact, and while their size provides significant convenience for users, certain functions such as speakerphone capability often suffer due to speaker and microphone size, quality, and placement.
- the present invention provides an electrical power unit with wireless audio communications capability, including a wireless communications module that is supported in a housing configured to be mounted at or along a work surface.
- the wireless communications module includes an audio speaker, a microphone, a wireless audio signal receiver, and a wireless audio signal transmitter.
- the wireless communications module establishes electronic communications with a compatible portable communications device, such as a smart phone, and is then operable as an amplifier whereby incoming sound signals to the phone are transmitted to the wireless communications module, amplified, and output as audible sound from the speaker.
- the wireless communications module is also operable to receive audio signals from the microphone and transmit these to the coupled portable communications device, which then transmits them to a remote communications device such as a remotely located phone.
- an electrical power unit with wireless communications capability includes a housing that is mountable to a work surface, plus a wireless communications module coupled to the housing.
- the wireless communications module includes an audio speaker, a microphone, a wireless audio signal receiver, and a wireless audio signal transmitter.
- the wireless signal receiver receives first electronic audio signals from a first mobile communication device, such as a cellular or mobile phone, and the audio speaker emits amplified sound in response to the wireless signal receiver receiving the first electronic audio signals.
- the wireless audio signal transmitter receives second electronic audio signals from the microphone, and transmits the second electronic audio signals to the mobile communication device for further transmission from the first mobile communication device to a second communication device, such as another cellular or mobile or hardwired phone, that is located remotely from the electrical power unit and the first mobile communication device.
- a second communication device such as another cellular or mobile or hardwired phone
- the wireless communications module is operable to automatically or semi-automatically establish two-way wireless communications with the first mobile communication device when the first mobile communication device is moved to within a predetermined distance of the electrical power unit.
- the electrical power unit is operable as a wireless remote speakerphone when the wireless communications module establishes two-way wireless communications with the first mobile communication device.
- the at least one electrical power receptacle mounted at the housing.
- the at least one electrical receptacle is either a high voltage AC power outlet or a low voltage DC power outlet.
- the electrical receptacle is a low voltage DC power outlet at the wireless communications module.
- the electrical power unity may further include a high voltage AC power outlet.
- the high voltage AC power outlet and the wireless communications module are slidably coupled to the housing.
- the wireless communications module further includes a two-piece housing forming an enclosure, a main circuit board, and a support plate.
- the main circuit board is in electrical communication with each of the audio speaker, the microphone, the wireless audio signal receiver, and the wireless audio signal transmitter.
- the support plate is disposed between the main circuit board on one side, and with the speaker and the microphone positioned on an opposite side.
- the wireless communications module further includes an elevated circuit board spaced above the main circuit board and the support plate.
- a pairing button is coupled to the elevated circuit board and is configured to establish wireless two-way communications between the wireless communications module and the first mobile communication device.
- a low voltage DC power outlet coupled to the elevated circuit board and configured to provide electrical power to a portable electronic device, such as the first mobile communication device, that is positioned outside of the electrical power unit.
- a frame is positioned atop the support plate and disposed around at least a portion of the elevated circuit board.
- the frame is coupled to the support plate and positioned between the speaker and the microphone.
- the electrical power unit with wireless communications capability cooperates with a mobile communications device to facilitate telephone conferencing by functioning together as a speaker phone, in which the wireless communications module provides sound output and receives sound input, rather than using the microphone and speaker provided on the mobile communications device with which it is wirelessly coupled.
- the wireless communications module may also be used for playing music or other sounds that it receives wirelessly from the mobile communications device.
- any wireless communications protocol may be used for pairing the electrical power unit with wireless communications capability to a smart phone or other portable communications device, including Bluetooth®, near field communications (NFC), and Wi-Fi communications.
- FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an electrical power unit with wireless communications module in accordance with the present invention, including a diagrammatic view of an exemplary wireless communications path;
- FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the wireless communications module of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the wireless communications module of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wireless communications module of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view depicting an assembly step of the electrical power unit with wireless communications module of FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the wireless communications module
- FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the wireless communications module
- FIGS. 8 and 9 are side elevations of the wireless communications module.
- FIGS. 10 and 11 are end elevations of the wireless communications module.
- an electrical power unit with wireless communications capability 10 includes a wireless communications module 12 that is supported in a housing 14 configured to be mounted at or along a work surface.
- the wireless communications module 12 includes an audio speaker 16 , a microphone 18 mounted in an isolation block 20 , AC to DC electrical power converter 21 , and wireless audio signal transmitter/receiver circuitry 22 , such as shown in FIG. 4 .
- terms such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, and “side” are used to express relative positions of various components with reference to the drawings, in which electrical power unit 10 is primarily shown in an orientation with its speaker 16 and microphone 18 in an upwardly-facing orientation.
- electrical power unit 10 and wireless communications module 12 may be installed and used in substantially any desirable orientation, including side-facing orientations and even downwardly-facing orientations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
- electrical power unit 10 and wireless communications module 12 may be installed in various work surfaces, which may include substantially any surface that defines a work area, ranging from tabletops and desktops, to walls or partitions, cabinets (including the undersides of overhanging cabinets), and the like.
- the wireless communications module 12 establishes electronic communications with a compatible portable communications device, such as a smart phone 24 ( FIG. 1 ), and is then operable as an amplifier whereby incoming sound signals to the phone 24 are transmitted by the phone to the transmitter/receiver circuitry 22 of wireless communications module 12 , amplified, and output as audible sound from the speaker 16 .
- the wireless communications module 12 is also operable to detect sound waves at the microphone 18 and transmit these as electronic audio signals to the coupled portable communications device 24 via wireless audio signal transmitter/receiver circuitry 22 , which then transmits them to a remote communications device such as a remotely located phone 26 , via one or more communications towers 28 or wired communications protocol, such as shown in FIG. 1 .
- Electrical power unit 10 may include one or more electrical receptacles, such as a low voltage DC receptacle 30 incorporated into wireless communications module 12 , and a high voltage AC receptacle 32 supported separately at housing 14 such as in the manner shown in FIG. 5 .
- a face plate or bezel 34 is coupled to housing 14 to present a more finished appearance and/or to facilitate mounting the electrical power unit 10 in an opening formed in a work surface such as a table or desk.
- the open ends of housing 14 may be enclosed by end caps 33 .
- Housing 14 and/or wireless communications module 12 may contain an electrical power converter, such as a DC power converter that receives a high voltage AC output and converts to a low voltage DC output at DC receptacle 30 .
- low voltage DC power may be supplied directly to wireless communications module 12 via a wire that passes into module 12 via a passageway 35 , such as shown in FIGS. 3, 7 and 8 .
- Housing 14 may be substantially similar to power and data housings described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,480,429 and 9,312,673, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.
- Wireless communications module 12 , high voltage AC receptacle 32 , and substantially any other compatible module, receptacle, or device may be inserted into and secured to housing 14 in substantially the same manner that is described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,480,429 and 9,312,673.
- wireless communications module 12 includes an upper housing piece 36 that couples to a lower housing piece 38 to form an enclosure for the various electronic components.
- Upper housing piece 36 and lower housing piece 38 may be substantially similar to front and rear housing portions of an enclosed receptacle housing that is described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,312,673, in particular with reference to FIGS. 17-19 thereof.
- lower housing piece 38 includes a pair of upwardly-extending tabs 40 , each with an outboard ridge 42 that engages a respective slot 44 formed at each end of upper housing piece 36 to secure the housing pieces together upon assembly.
- a speaker grille 46 is positioned above audio speaker 16 and fits into an opening 48 formed in an upper surface of upper housing piece 36 .
- a cover plate 50 is positioned adjacent speaker grille 46 and defines openings 52 a - c that correspond to openings 54 a - c formed in upper housing piece 36 . Openings 52 a - c , 54 a - c provide access to a pairing button 56 , low voltage DC receptacle 30 , and microphone 18 , respectively.
- Cover plate 50 may be made from a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as resinous plastic, rubber or rubber-like material, or the like, and may provide a sealing function to limit or prevent entry of contaminants into the interior of wireless communications module 12 .
- Speaker grille 46 includes a perimeter flange 46 a that also limits or prevents contaminants from entering the interior of wireless communications module 12 through opening 48 and, optionally, a liquid-resistant membrane or sheet may be placed beneath speaker grille 46 to further resist contaminants entering through openings in the grille 46 .
- Isolation block 20 and an upper portion of microphone 18 mount near speaker 16 , and a frame 58 is mounted between the speaker 16 and isolation block 20 .
- Frame 58 defines an opening 58 a in which an upper or elevated circuit board 60 , having pairing switch 56 and low voltage DC outlet 30 mounted thereto, is mounted and supported.
- a generally planar support plate 62 is positioned beneath speaker 16 , isolation block 20 , an upper portion of microphone 18 , frame 58 , and upper circuit board 60 , and is positioned above a main circuit board 64 to which AC to DC electrical power converter 21 , transmitter/receiver circuitry 22 , and upper circuit board 60 are mounted.
- Support plate 62 includes an upright end wall 66 having a lower wall surface 66 a that rests along an upper end surface 64 a of main circuit board 64 , and an upper wall surface 66 b including a recessed middle region that receives an outwardly-extending wall 68 at an outboard end of speaker 16 .
- Support plate 62 further includes a set of four slots 68 that receive respective downwardly-extending snap-in legs 70 of frame 58 , and a pair of upstanding sidewalls 72 that support frame 58 .
- Cover plate 50 is placed over both frame 58 , microphone 18 and isolation block 20 , with openings 52 a , 52 b providing access to pairing button 56 and low voltage DC receptacle 30 , respectively, and with opening 52 c providing a sound-conducting passageway for externally-produced sound waves to reach microphone 18 .
- a pair of slots 74 extend between sidewalls 72 and provide space through which lower connectors 76 , which are associated with upper circuit board 60 , pass for connection to main circuit board 60 .
- a small slot or notch 78 is formed along an end of support plate 62 , opposite end wall 66 , and provides space for wiring associated with microphone 18 to pass through to main circuit board 64 .
- a pair of recesses 80 are formed in an upper surface of support plate 62 and provide clearance for solder connections to wiring associated with speaker 16 , which wiring then passes through another notch 81 formed along an edge of support plate 62 to main circuit board 64 .
- speaker 16 is an assembly including two separate audio speakers ( FIG. 4 ), such as for stereo sound capability.
- microphone 18 is received in vibration isolator block 20 , which maintains alignment of microphone 18 with the microphone openings 52 c , 54 c in cover plate 50 and upper housing piece 36 , while also improving audio quality and reducing feedback that may otherwise be caused by vibrations of housing portions 36 , 38 .
- Microphone 18 is in electrical communication with main circuit board 64 , with a lower end portion of microphone 18 exiting through a hole 82 formed in the bottom of lower housing piece 38 , such as shown in FIG. 3 . In the illustrated embodiment, and as shown in FIG.
- pairing button 56 includes a top button housing 84 fitted with a translucent insert 86 , which are placed atop a selectively-illuminated lower button support 88 , which in turn is mounted to upper circuit board 60 .
- This arrangement allows pairing button 56 to provide a user with a visual indication of wireless pairing status between the user's portable electronic communications device 24 and wireless communications module 12 .
- audio signals produced through speaker 16 may also provide audible indications of wireless pairing status.
- Wireless pairing of wireless communications module 12 with mobile communications device 24 may be conducted by a user in a conventional manner, such as a touch-to-pair method that is typical for pairing compatible devices with NFC capability for Bluetooth® pairing, the use of pairing button 56 to make wireless communications module 12 discoverable by compatible mobile communications devices 24 using Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi or other short or medium range wireless communications protocol, for manual pairing.
- the wireless communications module 12 may be capable of automatically (e.g., using NFC tap-to-pair technology) or semi-automatically (e.g., using pairing button 56 ) establishing two-way wireless communications with compatible mobile communications devices 24 when one of the mobile communications devices 24 is moved to within a predetermined distance of the wireless communications module 12 .
- electrical power unit with wireless communications capability 10 cooperates with the mobile communications device 24 to facilitate telephone conferencing by functioning together as a speaker phone, in which the wireless communications module 12 provides sound output and receives sound input, bypassing the microphone and speaker provided on the mobile communications device 24 with which wireless communications module 12 is wirelessly coupled.
- the wireless communications module 12 may also be used for playing music or other sounds that it receives wirelessly from the mobile communications device 24 .
- any wireless communications protocol may be used, including Bluetooth®, near field communications (NFC), and Wi-Fi communications.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Power Engineering (AREA)
- Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
- Selective Calling Equipment (AREA)
- Cable Transmission Systems, Equalization Of Radio And Reduction Of Echo (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- The present application claims the filing benefits of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 62/330,766, filed May 2, 2016, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
- The present invention relates to power and/or data systems with communications capabilities, for use in work areas and the like.
- Mobile communications devices including cell phones, smart phones, and the like have become increasingly compact, and while their size provides significant convenience for users, certain functions such as speakerphone capability often suffer due to speaker and microphone size, quality, and placement.
- The present invention provides an electrical power unit with wireless audio communications capability, including a wireless communications module that is supported in a housing configured to be mounted at or along a work surface. The wireless communications module includes an audio speaker, a microphone, a wireless audio signal receiver, and a wireless audio signal transmitter. The wireless communications module establishes electronic communications with a compatible portable communications device, such as a smart phone, and is then operable as an amplifier whereby incoming sound signals to the phone are transmitted to the wireless communications module, amplified, and output as audible sound from the speaker. The wireless communications module is also operable to receive audio signals from the microphone and transmit these to the coupled portable communications device, which then transmits them to a remote communications device such as a remotely located phone.
- According to one form of the present invention, an electrical power unit with wireless communications capability includes a housing that is mountable to a work surface, plus a wireless communications module coupled to the housing. The wireless communications module includes an audio speaker, a microphone, a wireless audio signal receiver, and a wireless audio signal transmitter. The wireless signal receiver receives first electronic audio signals from a first mobile communication device, such as a cellular or mobile phone, and the audio speaker emits amplified sound in response to the wireless signal receiver receiving the first electronic audio signals. The wireless audio signal transmitter receives second electronic audio signals from the microphone, and transmits the second electronic audio signals to the mobile communication device for further transmission from the first mobile communication device to a second communication device, such as another cellular or mobile or hardwired phone, that is located remotely from the electrical power unit and the first mobile communication device.
- In one aspect, the wireless communications module is operable to automatically or semi-automatically establish two-way wireless communications with the first mobile communication device when the first mobile communication device is moved to within a predetermined distance of the electrical power unit.
- In another aspect, the electrical power unit is operable as a wireless remote speakerphone when the wireless communications module establishes two-way wireless communications with the first mobile communication device.
- In a further aspect, there is at least one electrical power receptacle mounted at the housing. Optionally, the at least one electrical receptacle is either a high voltage AC power outlet or a low voltage DC power outlet. Optionally, the electrical receptacle is a low voltage DC power outlet at the wireless communications module. In addition to the low voltage DC receptacle at the wireless communications module, the electrical power unity may further include a high voltage AC power outlet. Optionally, the high voltage AC power outlet and the wireless communications module are slidably coupled to the housing.
- In yet another aspect, the wireless communications module further includes a two-piece housing forming an enclosure, a main circuit board, and a support plate. The main circuit board is in electrical communication with each of the audio speaker, the microphone, the wireless audio signal receiver, and the wireless audio signal transmitter. The support plate is disposed between the main circuit board on one side, and with the speaker and the microphone positioned on an opposite side.
- In still another aspect, the wireless communications module further includes an elevated circuit board spaced above the main circuit board and the support plate. A pairing button is coupled to the elevated circuit board and is configured to establish wireless two-way communications between the wireless communications module and the first mobile communication device. A low voltage DC power outlet coupled to the elevated circuit board and configured to provide electrical power to a portable electronic device, such as the first mobile communication device, that is positioned outside of the electrical power unit.
- In a still further aspect, a frame is positioned atop the support plate and disposed around at least a portion of the elevated circuit board. Optionally, the frame is coupled to the support plate and positioned between the speaker and the microphone.
- Thus, the electrical power unit with wireless communications capability cooperates with a mobile communications device to facilitate telephone conferencing by functioning together as a speaker phone, in which the wireless communications module provides sound output and receives sound input, rather than using the microphone and speaker provided on the mobile communications device with which it is wirelessly coupled. The wireless communications module may also be used for playing music or other sounds that it receives wirelessly from the mobile communications device. Substantially any wireless communications protocol may be used for pairing the electrical power unit with wireless communications capability to a smart phone or other portable communications device, including Bluetooth®, near field communications (NFC), and Wi-Fi communications.
- These and other objects, advantages, purposes and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the following specification in conjunction with the drawings.
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FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of an electrical power unit with wireless communications module in accordance with the present invention, including a diagrammatic view of an exemplary wireless communications path; -
FIG. 2 is a top perspective view of the wireless communications module ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the wireless communications module ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of the wireless communications module ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view depicting an assembly step of the electrical power unit with wireless communications module ofFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the wireless communications module; -
FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the wireless communications module; -
FIGS. 8 and 9 are side elevations of the wireless communications module; and -
FIGS. 10 and 11 are end elevations of the wireless communications module. - Referring now to the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, an electrical power unit with
wireless communications capability 10 includes awireless communications module 12 that is supported in ahousing 14 configured to be mounted at or along a work surface. Thewireless communications module 12 includes anaudio speaker 16, amicrophone 18 mounted in anisolation block 20, AC to DCelectrical power converter 21, and wireless audio signal transmitter/receiver circuitry 22, such as shown inFIG. 4 . Throughout the specification and claims, terms such as “above”, “below”, “upper”, “lower”, and “side” are used to express relative positions of various components with reference to the drawings, in whichelectrical power unit 10 is primarily shown in an orientation with itsspeaker 16 andmicrophone 18 in an upwardly-facing orientation. However, it should be understood that such terms are used to facilitate understanding of the construction ofelectrical power unit 10 with reference to the accompanying drawings, and in particular the construction of thewireless communications module 12, and are not intended to be limiting. As such, it will be appreciated thatelectrical power unit 10 andwireless communications module 12 may be installed and used in substantially any desirable orientation, including side-facing orientations and even downwardly-facing orientations, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Moreover, it will be appreciated thatelectrical power unit 10 andwireless communications module 12 may be installed in various work surfaces, which may include substantially any surface that defines a work area, ranging from tabletops and desktops, to walls or partitions, cabinets (including the undersides of overhanging cabinets), and the like. - The
wireless communications module 12 establishes electronic communications with a compatible portable communications device, such as a smart phone 24 (FIG. 1 ), and is then operable as an amplifier whereby incoming sound signals to thephone 24 are transmitted by the phone to the transmitter/receiver circuitry 22 ofwireless communications module 12, amplified, and output as audible sound from thespeaker 16. Thewireless communications module 12 is also operable to detect sound waves at themicrophone 18 and transmit these as electronic audio signals to the coupledportable communications device 24 via wireless audio signal transmitter/receiver circuitry 22, which then transmits them to a remote communications device such as a remotely locatedphone 26, via one ormore communications towers 28 or wired communications protocol, such as shown inFIG. 1 . -
Electrical power unit 10 may include one or more electrical receptacles, such as a lowvoltage DC receptacle 30 incorporated intowireless communications module 12, and a highvoltage AC receptacle 32 supported separately athousing 14 such as in the manner shown inFIG. 5 . Optionally, a face plate orbezel 34 is coupled tohousing 14 to present a more finished appearance and/or to facilitate mounting theelectrical power unit 10 in an opening formed in a work surface such as a table or desk. The open ends ofhousing 14 may be enclosed byend caps 33.Housing 14 and/orwireless communications module 12 may contain an electrical power converter, such as a DC power converter that receives a high voltage AC output and converts to a low voltage DC output atDC receptacle 30. Optionally, low voltage DC power may be supplied directly towireless communications module 12 via a wire that passes intomodule 12 via apassageway 35, such as shown inFIGS. 3, 7 and 8 .Housing 14 may be substantially similar to power and data housings described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,480,429 and 9,312,673, which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in their entireties.Wireless communications module 12, highvoltage AC receptacle 32, and substantially any other compatible module, receptacle, or device may be inserted into and secured to housing 14 in substantially the same manner that is described in the above-referenced U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,480,429 and 9,312,673. - Referring now to
FIG. 4 ,wireless communications module 12 includes anupper housing piece 36 that couples to alower housing piece 38 to form an enclosure for the various electronic components.Upper housing piece 36 andlower housing piece 38 may be substantially similar to front and rear housing portions of an enclosed receptacle housing that is described in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 9,312,673, in particular with reference toFIGS. 17-19 thereof. In the illustrated embodiment,lower housing piece 38 includes a pair of upwardly-extendingtabs 40, each with anoutboard ridge 42 that engages arespective slot 44 formed at each end ofupper housing piece 36 to secure the housing pieces together upon assembly. - A
speaker grille 46 is positioned aboveaudio speaker 16 and fits into anopening 48 formed in an upper surface ofupper housing piece 36. Acover plate 50 is positionedadjacent speaker grille 46 and definesopenings 52 a-c that correspond to openings 54 a-c formed inupper housing piece 36.Openings 52 a-c, 54 a-c provide access to apairing button 56, lowvoltage DC receptacle 30, andmicrophone 18, respectively.Cover plate 50 may be made from a rigid or semi-rigid material, such as resinous plastic, rubber or rubber-like material, or the like, and may provide a sealing function to limit or prevent entry of contaminants into the interior ofwireless communications module 12.Speaker grille 46 includes aperimeter flange 46 a that also limits or prevents contaminants from entering the interior ofwireless communications module 12 throughopening 48 and, optionally, a liquid-resistant membrane or sheet may be placed beneathspeaker grille 46 to further resist contaminants entering through openings in thegrille 46. -
Isolation block 20 and an upper portion ofmicrophone 18 mount nearspeaker 16, and aframe 58 is mounted between thespeaker 16 andisolation block 20.Frame 58 defines an opening 58 a in which an upper or elevated circuit board 60, havingpairing switch 56 and lowvoltage DC outlet 30 mounted thereto, is mounted and supported. A generallyplanar support plate 62 is positioned beneathspeaker 16,isolation block 20, an upper portion ofmicrophone 18,frame 58, and upper circuit board 60, and is positioned above amain circuit board 64 to which AC to DCelectrical power converter 21, transmitter/receiver circuitry 22, and upper circuit board 60 are mounted.Support plate 62 includes anupright end wall 66 having alower wall surface 66 a that rests along an upper end surface 64 a ofmain circuit board 64, and an upper wall surface 66 b including a recessed middle region that receives an outwardly-extendingwall 68 at an outboard end ofspeaker 16.Support plate 62 further includes a set of fourslots 68 that receive respective downwardly-extending snap-inlegs 70 offrame 58, and a pair ofupstanding sidewalls 72 that supportframe 58. -
Cover plate 50 is placed over bothframe 58,microphone 18 andisolation block 20, withopenings 52 a, 52 b providing access topairing button 56 and lowvoltage DC receptacle 30, respectively, and with opening 52 c providing a sound-conducting passageway for externally-produced sound waves to reachmicrophone 18. A pair ofslots 74 extend betweensidewalls 72 and provide space through whichlower connectors 76, which are associated with upper circuit board 60, pass for connection to main circuit board 60. A small slot or notch 78 is formed along an end ofsupport plate 62,opposite end wall 66, and provides space for wiring associated withmicrophone 18 to pass through tomain circuit board 64. A pair ofrecesses 80 are formed in an upper surface ofsupport plate 62 and provide clearance for solder connections to wiring associated withspeaker 16, which wiring then passes through anothernotch 81 formed along an edge ofsupport plate 62 tomain circuit board 64. In the illustrated embodiment,speaker 16 is an assembly including two separate audio speakers (FIG. 4 ), such as for stereo sound capability. - An upper end portion of
microphone 18 is received invibration isolator block 20, which maintains alignment ofmicrophone 18 with themicrophone openings 52 c, 54 c incover plate 50 andupper housing piece 36, while also improving audio quality and reducing feedback that may otherwise be caused by vibrations ofhousing portions Microphone 18 is in electrical communication withmain circuit board 64, with a lower end portion ofmicrophone 18 exiting through ahole 82 formed in the bottom oflower housing piece 38, such as shown inFIG. 3 . In the illustrated embodiment, and as shown inFIG. 4 ,pairing button 56 includes atop button housing 84 fitted with atranslucent insert 86, which are placed atop a selectively-illuminatedlower button support 88, which in turn is mounted to upper circuit board 60. This arrangement allowspairing button 56 to provide a user with a visual indication of wireless pairing status between the user's portableelectronic communications device 24 andwireless communications module 12. Optionally, audio signals produced throughspeaker 16 may also provide audible indications of wireless pairing status. - Wireless pairing of
wireless communications module 12 withmobile communications device 24 may be conducted by a user in a conventional manner, such as a touch-to-pair method that is typical for pairing compatible devices with NFC capability for Bluetooth® pairing, the use ofpairing button 56 to makewireless communications module 12 discoverable by compatiblemobile communications devices 24 using Bluetooth® or Wi-Fi or other short or medium range wireless communications protocol, for manual pairing. Optionally, thewireless communications module 12 may be capable of automatically (e.g., using NFC tap-to-pair technology) or semi-automatically (e.g., using pairing button 56) establishing two-way wireless communications with compatiblemobile communications devices 24 when one of themobile communications devices 24 is moved to within a predetermined distance of thewireless communications module 12. - Thus, electrical power unit with
wireless communications capability 10 cooperates with themobile communications device 24 to facilitate telephone conferencing by functioning together as a speaker phone, in which thewireless communications module 12 provides sound output and receives sound input, bypassing the microphone and speaker provided on themobile communications device 24 with whichwireless communications module 12 is wirelessly coupled. Thewireless communications module 12 may also be used for playing music or other sounds that it receives wirelessly from themobile communications device 24. Substantially any wireless communications protocol may be used, including Bluetooth®, near field communications (NFC), and Wi-Fi communications. - Changes and modifications in the specifically-described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.
Claims (16)
Priority Applications (1)
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US15/583,372 US10008816B2 (en) | 2016-05-02 | 2017-05-01 | Work surface power unit with wireless speakerphone |
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US201662330766P | 2016-05-02 | 2016-05-02 | |
US15/583,372 US10008816B2 (en) | 2016-05-02 | 2017-05-01 | Work surface power unit with wireless speakerphone |
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US20170318609A1 true US20170318609A1 (en) | 2017-11-02 |
US10008816B2 US10008816B2 (en) | 2018-06-26 |
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US15/583,372 Active US10008816B2 (en) | 2016-05-02 | 2017-05-01 | Work surface power unit with wireless speakerphone |
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CA (1) | CA2965882C (en) |
MX (1) | MX2017005610A (en) |
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Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
CA2965882A1 (en) | 2017-11-02 |
CA2965882C (en) | 2018-11-06 |
MX2017005610A (en) | 2018-08-20 |
US10008816B2 (en) | 2018-06-26 |
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